Towel bar



April 18, 1956 P. F. SIMPSON 2,504,741

TOWEL BAR Filed Sept. 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WW7 aa/j 5m JM' Filed Sept. 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 18, 1950 P. F. SIMPSON 2,504,741

TOWEL BAR Wig/277% Patented Apr. 18, 1950 TOWEL BAR Paul F. Simpson, Washington, Conn., assignor to The Autoyre Company, Incorporated, Oakville, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application September 11, 1946, Serial No. 696,312

Claims. (01. 211-123) This invention relates to towel bars, more particularly to towel bars adapted to be secured to walls or similar supports by concealed securing means, and the invention has for an object the provision of improved, inexpensive and highly attractive towel bars of this character.

Towel bars have heretofore been proposed in which a cover plate to which the U-shaped bar is welded or similarly fixed is hingedly connected to a base plate having means for securement to a support, the cover plate being shaped to conceal the portion of the base plate containing the securement means after the towel bar has been installed on the wall or support. Such hingedbracket towel bars heretofore known, however, have employed U-shaped metal bars welded to the hinged cover plates as above indicated, and have been somewhat lacking from an appearance standpoint in that they do not present the substantial massive appearance characteristic of more expensive towel bar constructions, such as built-in or permanently mounted towel bars of either metal, glass or porcelain construction. Furthermore, the hinged type constructions heretofore known have not been adaptable to the use of glass or porcelain bars or rods for supporting the towels, and in various types of towel bars utilizing such glass or porcelain rods difficulties have been encountered in suitably supporting the bar or rod firmly while permitting ready assembly of the bar with its supporting arms during installation of the towel bar. Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention to provide an improved towel bar construction wherein a straight glass bar or rod is firmly held in supporting arms having a massive appearance, which arms are hingedly supported on a base plate and related thereto so as to conceal the screws or other securing means employed in fastening the base plates to a wall or similar support.

In carrying out the invention in one form a towel bar is provided comprising a base member having means for securement to a support and a hollow arm shaped to conceal the portion of the base member containing the securement means when the rear end edges of the arm abut the front face of the base member, and means are provided for hingedly securing one rear end edge of the arm to the base member for swinging movement from its concealing position to a positionwherein the securement means are exposed, the front end of the arm being shaped to receive in supportingrelation a transversely extending towel-receiving bar. More specifically, the hollow arm is of substantially rectangular crosssection and is provided at its forward end with an opening for receiving a flat glass bar of greater height than width, and resilient means are provided within the hollow arms for engaging the glass bar in clamping relation, the resilient means including a nonmetallic friction pad adapted to be pressed into engagement with one surface of the glass bar. a

For a. more complete understanding of the invention, reference should now be had to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a towel bar embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the towel bar shown in Fig. 1;

. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of one end of the towel bar'shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevational sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional viewtaken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the base member forming a part of the towel bar shown in Fig. 1,;

Fig, 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the arms employed in the towel bar of Fig. 1 looking toward the rear end of the arm; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view showing the hinged connection of the arm to the base member.

Referring now to the drawings, thev invention is shown as embodied in a towel bar comprising a pair of base members In for supporting substantially rectangular forwardly extending hollow arms I I, each of which is provided at its forward end with an open-sided housing 12 adapted to receive a straight fiat bar I3 which is preferably formed of glass but may of course be formed of any suitable material. Inasmuch as the base members Ill and the arms II at the opposite ends of the towel-receiving rod H are identical in construction, only one such structure will be described in detail.

As shown best in Fig. 6, the base member I0 is shaped to provide a pair of verticallyextending embossments or beads M at the opposite edges thereof and a central portion 15 of the base member ID is provided at its top and bottom connecting the hollow arm II to the base member ID.

As shown best in Fig. 7 the hollow arm this formed from a single sheet pf metal and is shaped to provide a substantiallyrectangular including a top wall 23 and'lie'penclin'gfsid s 24, the bottom wall of the arm comprisi ginturned flanges 25, the inner' edgskof wh'ieh ter- Each of In order to install the improved towel bar in proper position on a wall or similar support, the bar [3 may be assembled in the housings [2 of the two arms I l and the assembled bar and arms aligned properly on the wall so as to insure a horizontal position of the bar l3. The respective arms Il may then be unlatched from their base plates H) by pressing inwardly at the rear ends of the side walls, the slot 26 in the bottom wall providing sufilcient resilience to permit the latch members 29 to move inwardly to a position in which they may be freely moved out of the slots 69. The -ztwojfarms and the bar l3 maythen be upwafdly'aboutthe'hingeli connections of the arms and suitable locating marks may be "made on the wall or supporting surface through I the fscrew holes I7 and I8. The proper location pi the base members Ill having thus been estab- "lisliedfthebar ramay be disassembled from the her lfl'rriay 'b'eseciired to the wall or support by =the screw s 21, thesarms ll thereafter being swung minate short of each other to provide a long-i--- tudinally extending slot-n26 (Fig. 5). At its 'rar end edge the L9!) Wall"23 of the arm I I is proyn-aawnna pairer: (inwardlyextenam -ears= or ins fg'l adaptedtobe eceived in the ape tures zfr'trftne'base member l9,"as'shown bestinFig."8 'soTas 't'o hin 'dly support the arrn 'f'l onthe 'ba'se member the slots (Band pro'yidingsu'itable ,resih'ence of the base member to permit Iii dy"assembly"qf tne'hinged'conneetion. Each To the flanges 2 5 forming thebott'om wall 'of the ho arm'u isproviden'withe latch ,pditidn 2'9 whicniateh' portions "are ada ted to"e tend fifitoi'suitable'apertures so in thepas e member-"ro sdasnrmr to latch'the-iarm in theipo'siti'oh shown best in Fig. 'ljwher'einboth thehinged e onne'cndn "and "the latch eenneenon together wlththe s'erew heads"are"substantial1yconcealed fr.om View, .thecrear end edgrasbffthellih this position"abuttingthefrontface' of thbase plate 10 v L g Referring again 'fiai'tictflarlftdFig.' 7,'the top wall 2370f the arm I I is providd'with a'eo'rltinliati6n whichisshaped"'tofprovidean upwardly e rendinginafigeia 1 ,Ta forwardly extending pornen erandiia .downwafq iesztendin'gtwau ssgwnile the bottom flanges 'of the arm "I l rare each prc'svi'ae'd 'ivith'a idowriwa rdl'y eiqtending' narr'ge e l, a forwardly e' tending flange "a'nd upwardl i'eitlfidingbaisfifi" which overlap the Wall 33'B1I1d maybe'suitably secured thereto. "Theportions "comprise .a .U -shaped spring 'mem'berfiTthe side arms of which are curved asshown and the' free V jn'ols'of'which engage suitableinwardly er'ctendiri g' flanges [38 formed on the rear end edges of "the .3166 Wal1s"24. A yoke'portion'i39 pf the U-shapd spring 13?! bears against a pressure plateior'pad 40 which is preferablyformed'of some resnienrmateri al such as moldedplastic forexamplejthe irontifaoe'of the pad 140 bearing against'theglass .b'ar13 so'as to"pressithe';barfirmly into 'enga'gev go 'in even 7 though-the to their horizontally latched position, whereupon the"gla;ss"bar l3 may beinserted into the respective housings l2 where 'it will be firmly retained by the pi essure'of the pads -lil nnder the rerce exertea b y the tags :31. n will he ob- 'ser'vetl -that the spun embers :31 a TB- SO 'KiiSfp'ose'd with-inthe ai l'ns Fels t0'-be rtai1 ied 4;hl eare sw u r ig mpwarsly from the latchedpositionssIiGWn in Fig.-l for the p'ur'p'os'e 'of -seouring' the tewel bjar to the wall.

tionl'itllising fiat glass-barsorrodsbf the type "slio'wn w erein the towelreceivi-n'g bar orir-od' is "or considerably =greater hei t than w-idth, this particular type offbar ha ng' the- -advantage of mere-securely holding the towel*or similar ar 5 fnntil "afterthe'grip r the user on the tswel nas been-changed.

YWVHTIGIII have" s'hbwn'ja"particul ar embodiment ofni y invention,'*it*twill'be understood; or course, that I do riot -wish to be limited -'-thereto 'sinoe many"modifioationsmaybe made; and- Ifitherefore, "contemplate by f the rappend d claims to cover" anfysuch'modiiications as fall w-ithin the true spirit-armscope pr'my invention.

" avin thus"de'scri'bed"my nventicnwwhat 'i '3 claimar'rddesire to secure 'by' EBetters Pat-entis:

1. "'In a towel 1 bar-{the combination er- 3;- base "inemberhaving means-ror'secureinent m asurportgjafhollownrm "having a rear end portion "shapedtonon'oeaf 'the =porti n-'=r sa-id base' eentaining said secuiiem'erit means when the '-'-rear "end edges'of-saidarmiabutthe' front tace-of 'said .base,"means fofhingdly securin cne rea'r' end "edgeflof-said arm to"said"-base rorswingin ovement frorn said abilttirig positioned aposition "wherein'said'securement*rrieansareexposed, sai'd having apertures in opposed sidewalls'there- 'of,stews-receivin bar extendin -through said apertures-a pres'sure paddisposed within said 'aln'i 'fGI" nl'bvmeflt lbrigit-u'di nmyillhrf, a nd im- "mefitwith'the'fiontwall"33 ofthe housing". "'75'sniefit meansergmg said presssre pad agamst the portion of said bar extending through said arm for resiliently clamping said bar.

2.11:1 a towel bar, the combination of a base member having means for securement to a support, a hollow arm having a rear end portion shaped .to conceal the portion of said base containing said securement means when the rear end edges of said arm abut the front face of said base, means for hingedly securing one rear end edge or" said arm to said base for swinging movement from said abutting position to a position wherein said securement means are exposed, said arm havingv a front wall and having apertures in the side walls thereof immediately adjacent through said apertures, a pressure pad disposed 'within said arm for'movement" longitudinally thereof, and resilient means urging said pressure pad toward said front wall frictionally to engage and clamp said bar.

3. In a towel bar, a hollow supporting arm, means for securing the rear end of said arm to a support, said arm having a front wall and having apertures in the side walls immediately adjacent said front wall, a, towel-receiving bar extending through said apertures, a pad disposed within said arm for movement longitudinally thereof, and resilient means urging said pad against the portion of said bar extending through said arm to clamp said bar between said pad and said front wall.

4. In a towel bar, a hollow sheet metal arm of substantially rectangular cross section, means for securing one end of said arm to a support, means at the opposite end of said arm forming an opensided housing, a towel-receiving bar extending through said open-sided housing for support thereby, a pad of non-metallic material having a shape corresponding to the cross section of said arm and disposed in said arm for movement longitudinally thereof, and resilient means in said arm urging said pad toward said housing to engage the portion of said bar in said housing frictionally to clamp said bar therein.

5. In a towel bar, the combination of a, base member having means for securement to a support, a hollow sheet metal arm of substantially rectangular cross section, means along one rear end edge of said arm for hingedly connecting said arm to said base member with the rear end edges of said arm abutting said base member, whereby said arm encompasses the portion of said base member including said securement means and conceals said securement means, said hinge means permitting swinging movement of said arm to a position exposing said securement means, means adjacent the rear end edge of said arm opposite said one rear end edge for latching said arm in said abutting position, and means at the front end of said arm for supporting a towel-receiving bar.

6. In a towel bar, the combination of a base member having means for securement to a support, a hollow sheet metal arm of substantially rectangular cross section providing top and bottom walls, means for hingedly connecting said arm to said base member with the rear end edges of said arm abutting said base member, whereby said arm encompasses the portion of said base member including said securement means and conceals said securement means, said hinge means permitting swinging movement of said arm to a position exposing said securement means, the top and bottom walls of said arm including continuations formed to provide an open-sided housing with a front wall at the front end of said front wall, a'towel-receiving bar extending "said arm, atowel-receiving bar extending through said housing, and resilient means including a friction pad in said arm engaging said bar to press said bar into frictional engagement with the front wall of said housing.

. 7. In a towel bar, the combination of a base member having means for securement to a support, a hollow sheet metal arm of substantially rectangular cross section, means for hingedly connecting said arm to said base member with the rear end edges of said arm abutting said base member, whereby said arm encompasses the-portion of said base member including said securement means anclconceals said securement means, said hinge means permitting swinging movement of said arm to a position exposing said securement means, the top and bottom walls of said arm including continuations formed to provide an opensided housing at the front end of said arm, a towel-receiving bar extending through said housing, a non-metallic pad having substantially the contour of said cross section disposed in said arm for movement longitudinally thereof, and resilient means for urging said pad toward said housing to engage said bar and frictionally clamp said bar in said housing.

8. In a. towel bar, the combination of a base member having a central portion including means for securement to a support, said base member having bead portions extending vertically along the opposite edges of said central portion, a hollow arm of substantially rectangular cross section adapted to nest between said bead portions with its rear end edges abuttingsaid central portion whereby said arm conceals said securement means, said bead portions having apertures therein adjacent the upper ends thereof, hinge pins extending from said arm and engageable in said apertures hingedly to support said arm for swinging movement from said concealing position to a position exposing said securement means, said arm having a transverse opening therethrough adjacent the front end thereof, a towel bar extending through said opening, and resilient means within said arm for engaging said bar frictionally to restrain said bar against movement relative to said arm.

9. In a towel bar, the combination of a base member having a central portion including means for securement to a support, said base member having bead portions extending vertically along the opposite edges of said central portion, a hollow arm of substantially rectangular cross section adapted to nest between said bead portions with its rear end edges abutting said central portion whereby said arm conceals said securement means, means hingedly con necting said arm to said base member for swinging movement from said concealing position to a position in which said securement means are exposed, said hollow arm having its forward end shaped to provide an open-sided housing of greater height than said arm, a glass bar adapted to extend through said housing for support thereby in an edgewise position, a friction pad disposed in said arm for movement longitudinally thereof, and resilient means in said arm for urging said pad toward said housing to engage said glass bar and frictionally clamp said bar against movement relative to said arm.

10. In a towel bar, the combination of a base member having a central portion including means for securement to a support, said base member having a pair of spaced raised portions on opposite sides of said central portion and said raised portions having apertures therein, a hollow arm, 

